Top 10: Vodkas

10 Superior Vodkas You Need To Try At Least Once

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Vodka has a bit of an unfair stigma in the world of spirits. If you tell people that it’s your favorite drink, chances are you’ll be looked down upon by “serious drinkers”. Whiskey (or whisky) is well known as a gentleman’s (and gentlewoman’s) drink. There are nuances and flavors the aging imparts on the spirit. Vodka, on the other hand, isn’t matured. It’s the simplest form of liquor and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Unlike Scotch, bourbon, rye, cognac, gin, rum, or tequila, vodka works in almost any cocktail scenario. If you’re a fan of baseball, think of it as utility infielder of the spirits world. Just like the Boston Red Sox’s Brock Holt doesn’t start every day and plays various positions, he was still an all-star last year. That’s vodka. Place vodka with tonic and you’ve got yourself a classic drink. Mix it together with tomato juice (and various seasonings) and your breakfast game is on point. Whatever flavor you enjoy, add vodka to it and you’re sure to be happy with the results.

Now, let’s get to why vodka drinkers get the side eye from fans of other spirits. “A common misconception about vodka is that it's all the same, nondescript spirit. This couldn't be further from the truth. Especially in recent years with all these micro-distilleries that are new on the scene... They're truly pushing the envelope, whether it be with flavor or mouth-feel,” says Asher Boisvert, the bar manager of The Front Room.

Another thing vodka has going against it is the fact that most don’t stand out from the crowd. This is because, in the US, vodka is a neutral, clear, odorless spirit that comes off the still at a high proof before being bottled at 80 to 100 proof.

But, that being said, there is a lot of bad vodka out there. You should probably stay away from anything $10 or less or a vodka that comes in a large, plastic bottle with a handle. Your vodka tonic might be tasty that night, but the next morning will be pretty rough.

So, as long as you're paying more than, say, $10 for a bottle to plunk into your Moscow Mule, you're probably going to be all right. But when you get down to it, is "all right" good enough? Don't you want the best? And we don't mean the most expensive or the most popular. We mean well-made, innovative and yes, dammit, great-tasting vodka.

Good vodka is supposed to be tasteless and odorless because it is supposed to be only pure water and pure alcohol. But, of course, they all do have some type of taste, they just don’t have a strong flavor like a good gin or bourbon. In theory, this is why many picked up vodka in the first place, as it doesn’t leave you smelling like booze.

Vodka is a very simple drink. It has two main ingredients, one of which is pure alcohol, the other is water. As a rule of thumb, the more pure alcohol your product has, the nicer the product is. The alcohol is then purified by a process of distilling, and a process of purifying. Good vodka is going to have a smooth taste and good texture with minimal burn. A lower quality vodka is going to have a taste that is a bit hard to stomach and is going to burn like crazy going down.

But enough about all of that. Let’s have some vodka, shall we? There are a ton of options out there -- here are the top 10 vodkas that will do you proud.

Vodka Products That Will Change Your Mind

Flaviar

Flaviar is a spirits subscription service. It’s perfect for fans of any spirit and has some of the best whiskies, rums, tequilas, gins, and most importantly vodkas in the world. To join the club, all you need to do is pay $60 dollars every three months or $210 dollars per year. That might seem like a lot of money. But, if you want to try hard-to-find vodkas you might never sample, there are few services better than Flaviar. One of its best offerings is its 'Try Before You Buy' themed sample sets. These allow members to sample different offerings side-by-side.

The Spirit Infusion Kit

One of the biggest trends in the vodka world is infusion. This kit gives you everything (well, except the vodka) you need to make your own infused vodka. It comes with a 110-page recipe and instruction book, an infusion jar, a liquor bottle w/ wood cork top, funnel & strainer with fine mesh filter, and a chalkboard tag to put a name to your new flavored vodka. This kit will help you make any infused vodka you can think of. Do you enjoy apple pie (who doesn’t?)? Well, you can infuse your favorite vodka with spiced apple cinnamon. Do you love bacon? Well, this kit will help you make that smoky, bacon-flavored vodka that will be perfect for your favorite Bloody Mary.

Moscow Mule Copper Mug Set

The only thing more fun than sipping on a delicious cocktail is sipping on a delicious cocktail in a cool cup. The iconic Moscow Mule is one of the most famous vodka-based cocktails and is supposed to be enjoyed in a copper mug. This set of four copper mugs is perfect for fans of the vodka, ginger beer and lime juice drinks. Made from pure food grade copper, these handcrafted mugs are heavy duty and designed to keep drinks icy cool. They’ll make you want to whip up some Moscow Mules every time you have friends and family over.

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